Isaiah 53:5 tells us that atonement and forgiveness was provided for us by Jesus death. I am so appreciative of God’s forgiveness. It was provided for us by Jesus.
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;”
In a wonderful show of grace and mercy, God the Father accepted Jesus sacrifice in our place. God’s forgiveness became a possibility for those who believe.
It is believed that John lingered at the cross longer than any of the other disciples. His testimony is extremely important because he was an eyewitness.
Up until this moment, when Jesus was upon the cross, the earth and everything else around Calvary had given visible expression to who Jesus was. The earthquake, the darkness, all of the miracles declared him to be the Son of God. Jesus of course knew who he was. He was the Son of God, but he was also the perfect Passover lamb. Jesus knew that He was the only acceptable sacrifice and atonement for man’s sin and he gave his life as a ransom, the required price of redemption. Jesus paid it all! God’s forgiveness was now available.
Jesus died very near the time of preparation for the Passover. Across Israel that day, they were celebrating the Passover. Lambs were being slain in preparation for the Jews to remember the Passover, but on the cross the perfect Passover Lamb was also being offered.
We could go back and see that the Passover lamb was not to have any bones broken. Jesus was our Passover Lamb. That is why his legs were not broken. It was the fulfillment of a prophecy.
After Jesus death, Joseph of Arimathea had gone to Pilate and begged for his body. Pilate gave the order that the legs of the three be broken, causing them to die much quicker. Of course we know that they obediently broke the legs of the two thieves but they did not break Jesus legs because he was already dead. He had already died.
John saw his death and records for us the events that occurred after Jesus death.
John 19:32-35 “The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”
John 19:36-37 “The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
Just to make sure that Jesus was dead. A soldier pierced his side and the Word tells us an astonishing thing. Blood and Water flowed out.
This Roman soldier did not realize he was fulfilling Bible prophecy. He just thought he was making sure Jesus was dead. It is believed that spear went in completely to Jesus heart and the last drops of blood flowed from his body.
There were seven streams of blood that flowed from the days of Christ’s sufferings.
There were the sweat drops of blood in the Garden. The blood had flowed from his head with the crown of thorns. The blood had flowed from his face with the beating he endured. The blood had flowed from the stripes on his back. It flowed from his hands. It flowed from his feet.
But much of Jesus Blood still remained in his body. It was almost as though every drop of Jesus blood was to be shed.
John declared it was true – blood and water had flowed from His body? But what does this final flow of blood and water signify?
Many believe it was not water and blood mixed…but two separate streams.
Obviously, the stream of blood was for our Justification. The Bible plainly says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. That blood provides atonement. That blood provides forgiveness. The word justification is not hard to understand. The blood of Jesus makes me just-as-if-I’d never sinned. His blood removes the sin from us.
The water has significance for us as well! Water represents purity in the Word. Water represents cleanliness. Jesus didn’t just come to forgive us…he came to change us. To make us pure. The theological word we use to describe this process is sanctification.
He didn’t shed his blood so that you would remain in sin. He shed his blood so you could live a pure life. Little is written in today’s world about this subject.
There is an old song from my grandfather’s day that touched on this.
The old song Rock of Ages.
The water and the blood
From thy wounded side flow
Be of sin the double cure.
Save from wrath and make me pure
Is it any wonder Paul wrote in Galatians 6:14 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[1] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The blood of Jesus provided God’s forgiveness and many other benefits as well.
I encourage you to appropriate the seven streams of blood Jesus’ shed. This article is the final article related to what Christ has done. Here is a brief recap:
The bloody sweat provides victory over the human will.
The blood from the crown of thorns provides healing for the mind and the emotions
The blood from the hands provide authority for the church.
The blood from His feet provide victory over Satan and success in sharing the gospel.
The blood from His back provides healing for your body.
The blood from His marred and disfigured face provides hope for a relationship with him where we will be changed
The blood from His side provides atonement for sins and the promise of purity.
Amen thank you